Milton, ON — Brandon Blvd delivered a statement performance ahead of the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations by winning the Grade 3 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on Saturday night (May 30) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The Andrew Harris-trained Brandon Blvd and driver Jason Bartlett posted a stakes-record clocking of 1:48.1 to win the C$140,500 Somebeachsomewhere, for 3-year-old pacers. The clocking bested the previous mark of 1:48.2, set by Bulldog Hanover in 2021.
The opening quarter of the race saw No Waitlist blast to the lead while Sweet Lovin Lou also hustled forward but had to settle for the two-hole with Brandon Blvd right in behind third. After stalking a :26 opener, Brandon Blvd swept to the lead and hit the half in :54.3.
Brandon Blvd then paced a :26.4 third quarter in effortless fashion, posting a 1:21.1 three-quarter time. The stretch drive saw the son of Downbytheseaside close things out with another :26.4 clip to win by 2-1/4 lengths.
“I asked on him a little bit at the head of the lane, and he just took off … the last three or four pylons, he was just shut down, and I actually thought I was going a (1):47 clip,” said Bartlett, who was subbing in for regular driver Dexter Dunn. “What a great horse, professional, leave out of there, and put people where we need to put them and then re-move him. Just a professional.”
Sweet Lovin Lou angled out in the lane and got up for second over No Waitlist. Borderline Mobby was fourth. All 10 starters are eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup.
Brandon Blvd was making just his second start of the season, following up a victory in the Grade 3 Paul Revere at Plainridge on May 2.
“The schedule gets so busy that you want to try and bring them in easy,” said Harris. “These horses really only race about 13, 14, 15 times a year, and you [have] to have them ready for the right starts.”
Brandon Blvd is owned by Punisher 11 Stable LLC and now has nine wins in 12 career starts. His latest graded stakes win takes his career earnings over C$675,000.
The next step for Brandon Blvd is the Pepsi North America Cup, and Harris is ready to see what will happen.
“We’re just going to sit here and do what we do on the track. Beau Jangles is amazing, Odds On Mr Mamba is amazing, there’s a few other horses that are amazing. Let them do all the talking and nobody has to talk about us, and we’ll just show up on race day and see what happens.”
Brandon Blvd paid $2.40 to win.